A welder's garment assembly for protecting a welder from heat and electricity includes a garment that can be worn by a user. The garment is comprised of a pair of insulating layers that are sandwiched between a pair of covering layers. Each of the insulating layers is comprised of an energy absorbing material to protect the user during welding. A respective one of the covering layers is comprised of a resilient material to protect the insulating layers from abrasion. Furthermore, a respective one of the covering layers is comprised of a deformable material for enhancing comfort for wearing the garment.

An ultra-hard carbon film is formed by the uniaxial compression of thin films of graphene. The graphene films are two or three layers thick (2-L or 3-L). High pressure compression forms a diamond-like film and provides improved properties to the coated substrates.

A multi-threat protection composite containing at least 15 textile layers having an upper and lower surface and a non-blocking pressure sensitive adhesive (NonB-PSA) composition on at least the upper surface of each textile layer. The NonB-PSA coating contains a pressure sensitive adhesive and a plurality of first inorganic particles, wherein the ratio by weight of the first inorganic particles to the pressure sensitive adhesive is greater than about 1.2 and wherein the NonB-PSA coating is in an amount of at least about 10 g/m.sup.2 on each surface the NonB-PSA coating is located. The first inorganic particles have a median primary particle size of less than about 5 micrometers.

First-aid systems having an ultra compact first-aid pouch configured to fit behind the ballistic plates of a protective vest are disclosed. In this configuration, the first-aid kit is protected from shrapnel and tearing, is easily locatable and removable and does not effect the user's freedom of movement. When the first-aid pouch is removed from its protected location, it presents the first-aid equipment in a logical and easily viewable manner.

First-aid systems having an ultra compact first-aid pouch configured to fit behind the ballistic plates of a protective vest are disclosed. In this configuration, the first-aid kit is protected from shrapnel and tearing, is easily locatable and removable and does not effect the user's freedom of movement. When the first-aid pouch is removed from its protected location, it presents the first-aid equipment in a logical and easily viewable manner.

Rip-stop pants include waist and leg portions formed of ripstop fabric having synthetic mechanical-stretch filament yarns interwoven into spun, staple yarns in a ripstop pattern.

Rip-stop pants include waist and leg portions formed of ripstop fabric having synthetic mechanical-stretch filament yarns interwoven into spun, staple yarns in a ripstop pattern.

An articulated cervical spine and neck protection system for protecting the cervical spine and the soft tissues of the neck, and for reducing related injuries including concussion. The invention has been developed primarily for use in full combat scenarios, including weapons-based combat, and combat-training scenarios, including in the defence forces, for law enforcement, or in martial arts competition or training including those involving weapons. The articulated cervical spine and neck protection system comprises an articulated cervical shroud assembly that allows good movement while protecting the cervical spine and soft tissues of the throat and neck against risks commonly associated with full contact sports and real combat scenarios, including weapons-based combat.

According to exemplary inventive practice, a personal armor system includes a textile-based layer not exceeding ½-half-inch thickness, and an elastomeric coating not exceeding ⅛-inch thickness. The textile-based layer includes a fiber reinforcement and a resin binder. The combined areal density of the textile-based layer and the elastomeric coating does not exceed 2.5 psf. According to a first mode of inventive practice, the elastomeric coating is essentially a strain-rate-sensitivity-hardening elastomer, and the areal density of the textile-based layer does not exceed 2.3 psf. According to a second mode of inventive practice, the elastomeric coating is essentially a microparticle-filled strain-rate-sensitivity-hardening elastomeric matrix material, and the areal density of the textile-based layer does not exceed 1.7 psf. The microparticles (e.g., spherical glass microparticles) do not exceed, by weight, 30 percent of the strain-rate-sensitivity-hardening elastomeric matrix material. The textile-based layer affords ballistic protection; the elastomeric coating affords protection against sharp/pointed objects.

According to exemplary inventive practice, a personal armor system includes a textile-based layer not exceeding ½-half-inch thickness, and an elastomeric coating not exceeding ⅛-inch thickness. The textile-based layer includes a fiber reinforcement and a resin binder. The combined areal density of the textile-based layer and the elastomeric coating does not exceed 2.5 psf. According to a first mode of inventive practice, the elastomeric coating is essentially a strain-rate-sensitivity-hardening elastomer, and the areal density of the textile-based layer does not exceed 2.3 psf. According to a second mode of inventive practice, the elastomeric coating is essentially a microparticle-filled strain-rate-sensitivity-hardening elastomeric matrix material, and the areal density of the textile-based layer does not exceed 1.7 psf. The microparticles (e.g., spherical glass microparticles) do not exceed, by weight, 30 percent of the strain-rate-sensitivity-hardening elastomeric matrix material. The textile-based layer affords ballistic protection; the elastomeric coating affords protection against sharp/pointed objects.